Folding curtain-stretcher



(No Model.)

S. E. REEDE FOLDING CURTAIN STR ER.

No. 585,593. Patented June 2.9, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrca.

SUSIE ELIZABETH REEDER, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

FOLDING CURTAlN-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,593, dated June 29, 1897.

Application filed March 9, 1897. Serial No. 626,678. (No odel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SUsIn ELIZABETH REED- ER, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain useful Improvements in Folding Curtain- Stretchers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to an improvement in folding curtain-stretchers The object of my invention is to provide a frame that can be used for the purpose of stretching curtains which have been washed and are to be dried, the frame also being nicely adapted to be used in the making and preparation of quilts, being known as a quiltingframe, the aim of my invention being to provide a device that shall be light, readily opera-ted, adjustable to any sizeor width of curtain or quilt, and shall further be arranged to fold, so as to require a minimum amount of space when not in use. The frame is further nicely adapted to be placed on end, so that when used as a curtain-stretcher the air may readily circulate through the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown, in Figure 1, a side elevation of a fold in g curtain-stretcher and quilting-frame with all the parts assembled. Fig. 2 shows a broken top view disclosing the arrangement of the frame, but in which the retaining-strip is removed. Fig. 3 shows a broken detached view disclosing the upper end of one of the togglejoints, showing the position of the retainingpeg used in holding the pin-support. Fig. 4 shows an enlarged top view of one of the angular posts used in my invention. Fig. 5 shows a modification wherein two adjoining sets of lazy-tongs are united by means of an ear. Fig. 6 shows abroken section of the pinstrip used in my device.

My invention comprises, essentially, a rectangular support or frame, the four sides of which frame are each represented by a system of lazy-tongs, the frame being preferably longer in one direction than in the other, so that two opposite sets of lazy-tongs, referring to Fig. 1, and which lazy-tongs form the sides of the frame, are considerably longer than the two sets of lazy-tongs forming the end sections of the frame. These lazy-tongs sections are of the usual construction, with the exception that at the union of the bars at their upper ends one bar is always provided with a projecting peg or pin 1), as is shown in Fig. 3, each set of lazy-tongs at their upper union being provided withone of these pins.

To connect the four systems of lazy-tongs, I provide an angular post A, of wood or any other suitable materiahwhich is provided with a slot upon each side, (marked 1,) within which slot an ordinary thumb-screw 5 reciprocates, which thumb-screw is secured to the lower end of one of the end toggle-bars, as is shown in Fig. 1. The upper end of one of the end toggle-bars at both ends of the lazy-tongs systems is pivotally secured by means of a pin B, as is shown in Fig. 1, so that the alinement of the upper or pin edge of the lazytongs will always be true to the terminations of the posts A A, as will be noticed in referring to Fig. 1, the adjustment being permitted the lazy-tongs by virtue of the sliding thumb-screw 5.

The arrangement permits a separate adj ustment of each system of lazy-tongs.

Now as there is no standard size either for quilts or curtains my frame is made adjustable to any size, so that a curtain fifteen feet long and two feet wide could be dried as conveniently as could be stretched a quilt ten feet long and eight feet wide. However, in the use of the device both as a stretcher for the curtains and a support for the quilt it is necessary that some'provision be made to support the curtain or quilt. This I accomplish in providing a holder C, of wood, or, if desired, this pin-strip, as I term it, may be of ducking oranyother suitable fabric and be provided with a series of openings 2, adapted to be engaged by the pin 1), which strip is provided with a series of hooks a, which-are preferably made of non-rusting material, and over which strand the curtains or the fabric itself may be immediately hooked, so that the article supported by my frame is held at all four edges.

In the use of my frame. the same can be placed in proper position so that the pin edge of the lazy-ton gs extends upward, as is shown in Fig. 1, so that the four edges of the curtain, quilt, or other fabric or article to be supported can be readily secured, after which the frame can be stretched and locked by means of the Various thumb-screws 5, forming a practically rigid device. It is not necessary that the article to be stretched or supported be square, as the same might be in the form of a trapezoid. The pin-strip C is supported at each union of the toggle 3,

and so of course locks these bars at each upper point of the union. Now after the article or object has been properly supported and secured the whole frame when not in use can be placed on end to be supported by two of the end posts A, and so be placed out of the way and in an upright position.

Of course when the device is not in use the whole forms a compact rectangular package which is easily stored and handled.

Now, having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is-

1. In a folding curtain-stretcher, the combination of four sets of lazy-tongs, four corner-posts, each lazy-tongs being secured to two of said posts, and four supporting pinstrips adj ustably secured to said posts so that adjustment lengthwise as well as lat- 0 erally may be obtained.

2. In a supporting-frame, the combination with four supportingposts, of four systems of lazy-tongs, said lazy-tongs having their end bars pivoted at one end to the upper end of each of said posts,-slots within said posts, and means to adj ustably lock the lower ends of said lazy-tongs to said posts, so that each of said lazy-tongs may be given independent adjustment.

3. The combination with four posts, of four systems of lazy-tongs, two being secured to each post, to form a four-sided frame, each lazy-tongs being permit-ted independent adjustment and a system of pegs at the upper end of said toggle-joint.

4. The combination with four suitable su pports, of four systems of lazy-tongs, two be- SUSIE ELIZABETH REEDER.

Witnesses:

ANE M. ELKJER, GEO. W. Suns. 

